Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office 9 Director Ofelia B. Domingo yesterday warned the public about bogus job opportunities spread through social networking sites such as Facebook by an alleged recruitment company.

Domingo made the announcement after the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) represented by Zamboanga City LGU PESO Manager Ma. Socorro A. Rojas reported that there are some individuals conducting online recruitment for supposedly online jobs and determined that the main link is www.planpromatrix.com. The company guises itself as a recruitment company offering data entry jobs to its employees.

"The scheme is to recruit prospective applicants and demand payment of a registration fee of PHP 600.00. After which they will be accepted as employees. These employees, in turn, will be asked to recruit other participants and request that they pay the same amount thru a money remittance center. This scheme is reminiscent of a networking/pyramiding scam," Domingo said.

She likewise warned applicants against falling prey to unscrupulous individuals that post supposed job vacancies in fake websites and Facebook pages especially those that require immediate payment of fees.

She also advised applicants to validate the authenticity of job offers through POEA's verification system at the website poea.gov.ph or by calling its telephone hotline at (062) 992-1773.

The public is also encouraged to alert the DOLE9 of any similar illegal recruitment activities by calling DOLE9 Hotline at (062) 991-3376 and 0917-724-4334. The DOLE hotline service is open to attend not only to queries about labor and employment issues but also to other critical incidents affecting local and overseas-based workers.#

KAREN CLAIRE Q. GRAFIA
AA-III/LIO-Designate